Retailers need no reminding that we’re coming up to their busiest time of the year. Being able to cope with demand and deliver the experience that customers expect is central to remaining competitive and delivering the right experience, cost-effectively, means focusing on these 6 areas...
Not only are holidaymakers now booking their travel and accommodation online, but the web has also paved the way for new business models, with more people going direct to hotels and airlines rather than booking complete packages from traditional travel agents. In this digital first world, how are UK travel companies doing in terms of online customer experience?
New figures from the National Retail Federation point to sales increasing by 3.6% over the course of 2016 holiday shopping season in the US, hitting $655.8 billion. Ecommerce should grow between 7-10%, totaling as much as $117 billion. In the UK, retailers will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2015 festive season where heavy discounting hit margins in many parts of the sector.
The internet has transformed the way we buy our holidays and flights, with the majority of people now booking all or part of their travel online. Digital channels have also driven up the level of competition in the sector, putting downward pressure on prices as transparency increases. At the same time with so many options to choose from online, customers are more discerning about where they take..
While the peak season for retailers isn’t yet over, many companies are already taking stock and looking at their performance, as well as studying the wider trends that emerged in the run up to Christmas 2015.The positive news is that overall spending in the US was up by nearly 8%, according to figures from MasterCard. However, not every retailer will have felt the benefit...
With the holidays now nearly upon us, spare a thought for customer service teams who have to keep working right up to, and through, Christmas itself. For retailers, the gap between fulfilling last minute orders and the start of the sales is now measured in hours, while consumer electronics manufacturers have to be ready to deal with any queries from customers trying to get their new...
Housing demographics are changing across the world, driven by longer lives and the increasing cost of getting onto the property ladder. In the United States 4 out of 5 households don’t fit the traditional mold of two parents and pre-college kids, with a growing number containing multiple generations, such as grandparents or boomerang children that have left, then returned home...
With so much money spent at this time of year, the Holiday period is crucial for retailers. In today’s competitive industry, a good Christmas can literally mean the difference between survival and going bankrupt. But getting it right isn’t easy – the internet has greatly increased competition, putting pressure on prices, while consumer demands are ever increasing. They ...